On March 19, 2021 I was out of town visiting a friend. We went for coffee, as we sat in line at the drive-through, a picture popped up on Facebook. Free Pomeranian one-year-old. I had to put down my AKC 15-year-old purebred Cairn Terrier a week before Christmas and a week before his birthday this year due to liver failure, my heart was broken. I had been searching breeds as I have allergies.
That’s when this little angel came to me. I knew exactly what he was when I saw the photo. I immediately messaged the woman she gave me the address and I went straight there. It was a very unsafe unhealthy area. I was told by a friend of mine, a retired state trooper, not to go alone. Needless to say I went. I messaged her when I arrived outside of a rundown house in a bad part of town. A woman came out the door and hollered, come on in nobody’s sick in here, as a cloud of smoke rolled out the door. I put on my mask and I went inside. There were several different nationalities in the house, mainly men.
Then I saw him he saw me, I bent down and he came over immediately and buried his head between my legs. I knew I had to take him out of the situation. There was a lot going on in this home. The woman was kind to me. I had noticed he had a limp, I asked her about it, and she said he did it for attention. I asked her if he had a veterinarian? She replied tractor supply. So, I scooped him up and away we went. She asked me if I wanted his food and bed and I told her no thank you. I immediately took him to Chemung Valley Veterinary in Elmira, New York. They checked him over and said everything looked good except he had an old injury to his leg which would need an x-ray. They said that he was microchipped and gave me the number. When I got back to my home town with him I took him to another veterinary office, Champlain Valley Veterinary Clinic in Plattsburgh, New York. They did an exam and said he had a UTI and hookworm, so we started treatment for that, they also said he would have to have all his shots again because I had no proof that he had ever had any. So we started with a rabies shot. She confirmed that he had luxating patella in his rear hind leg and possibly ACL, both which they require an x-ray. I also started him on NexGard. Over the next week I spoke to the woman on several occasions that I had got him from. She finally admitted that they kept him for breeding purposes and he was kept in a small cage only let out to breed and to go to the bathroom. He has never been walked on a leash which we are learning together now. He is skittish outside but he is getting better.
And thankfully grateful to WestieMed for granting us the money to get the x-rays done so hopefully we can take care of his leg.
Lynn
Update June 2021:
Jaxson’s x-rays revealed he had Legg-Perthes disease, not a ligament tear. He subsequently underwent a Femoral Head Ostectomy funded by WestieMed. Jaxon’s surgery was successful and his recovery uneventful. He is doing extremely well post-op
Update October 28, 2021:
Jaxson is doing great, Using his hind leg 99% of the time, vet says everything looks good. Thanks so much for your help.
Update October 25, 2022:
Jackson is doing amazing with his two brothers. He makes us laugh every day, and is one of the sweetest boys you could ever find. Thank you so much for helping Jackson, I know here with me, and my other two Westie boys he could not have a better home. Here is a photo of Jackson and his two brothers.
